Easton senior running back Quaran Hughes had another game in which he played like a freight train, but it wasn't his hard running that had Hughes the most proud following the Red Rovers' 21-14 victory over Parkland Saturday night at Cottingham Stadium.

Hughes, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards, scored his first receiving touchdown, a 10-yarder off a rollout from Justin Pacchioli in the second quarter.

He finished it off with a bulldoze at the 1-yard line. His score gave Easton a 21-7 lead and was yet another punishing reminder of how physical a football team Easton is whether running or passing.

"I wanted to get in there really bad," Hughes said. "I don’t think nobody was going to stop me from getting in there."

Easton's win was its second in a three-day span. Tired? Easton was far from it.

"We came out strong," Hughes said. "We weren't that sore. We just came out strong from the gate and it helped us out. Nobody thought this was possible."

The Red Rovers (13-1) advance to play LaSalle College (11-1) in the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.

This district final strikes me as the type of game where an unexpected player will help determine the outcome. I'm thinking someone in the return game, whether after a turnover or on a kickoff or punt, will have a big say in who wins. The player most likely to produce a big return for the Bulldogs is Jake Kern, one of their most versatile players.

Much like Northern Lehigh's game with Catasauqua, I expect this week's meeting with North Schuylkill to be undecided well into the fourth quarter. If the Bulldogs limit their turnovers, I like their chances. Giveaways were a big reason they lost their first game against Catasauqua, and they cannot afford to give a team of North Schuylkill's caliber a short field several times.

Just thought I'd pass along more information on Abington Heights, the District 2 Class 3A champion that brings an 11-1 record to Bethlehem tonight to play Central Catholic (11-1) in a PIAA Class 3A first-round matchup at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.

Much thanks for Joby Fawcett of the Times Shamrock for the extra information. On paper it looks like a tough game for the Vikings, but Central Catholic is the co-Lehigh Valley Conference champs and mixed it up with grinding, grueling, physicla teams all season.

Phillipsburg coach Bob Stem talked away, entertaining the media with his insights and clear reasons why the Stateliners were routed, 26-10 by rival Easton today at Lafayette College's Fisher Stadium in the 103rd Thanksgiving Day meeting between the two schools.

Stem's turned heads, got minds racing even more when he hinted that he may retire because he's not sure if he still has it.

His emotions were clearly talking. After all, Easton's win was its fourth straight in the series, each against Stem-coached Phillipsburg teams.

"It may be time to let someone else try," Stem said. "Maybe it's time to give someone else a shot at it. I'm getting old. I don't take to this stuff well."

Phillipsburg is 9-2 and can still win its third NJSIAA North 2 Group 4 title in Stem's second head coaching stint at his Ama Mater when the Stateliners play Ridge on Dec. 5, but the loss to Easton is crushing.

Does it taint a legendary career that includes five state titles for Stem, including two over his 19-year career at Bethlehem Catholic? It shouldn't, but Stem has been around longer than aged wine and he may be serious about retiring this time

He has 284 career wins, 101 at Phillipsburg.

"I am 70 years old," Stem said. "I'm no Joe Paterno."

On the high school level, Stem is legendary and today, he talked with his emotions, but he has nothing left to prove and can leave the coaching field on top, if the Stateliners win their final game.

If not, all that he's achieved cannot be tainted by four straight losses to Easton. Even the citizens of Phillipsburg have to agree with that assessment.

Two years ago when Hazleton beat Easton and Liberty in back-to-back games, then lost to Parkland by only two points in the District 11-2-4 Class 4A subregional final, most people probably thought it was only because the Cougars had an unstoppable running back in Nate Eachus.

Can't argue with that, but Hazleton played Easton well tonight and with a break here or there, might have been closer than the 28-6 final in favor or the Red Rovers in the subregional semifinals at Cottingham Stadium.

The bottom line is that Hazleton is no longer a pushover for Lehigh Valley Conference teams. The final score tonight was lopsided but it was a respectable, hard-hitting, entertaining game.

In a 2005 subregional playoff game against Liberty, Hazleton was routed 42-21. Since that loss, the Cougars have matched up with LVC teams.

"I think our kids and our program has proved that we can compete with anybody," Hazleton coach Rocco Petrone said." Easton’s one of the best teams in the state, no mistake about that, and for our kids to hang in there the way that they did, I’m proud to be their coach."

Morning Call Sports Reporters Stephen Miller and Tom Housenick blog about high school and college sports action on and off the field in and around the Lehigh Valley, only at themorningcall.com.

Meet the bloggers

TOM HOUSENICK watches every move Lehigh’s C.J. McCollum makes on the court, laughs at every joke by Lafayette coach Fran O’Hanlon and watches all the Divisions II and III coaches and players do it for the love of the game. Basketball makes the cold weather season go by fast. Already can’t wait for late February and early March when each possession could result in a season ending or continuing on.

Wrapping up his ninth year at The Morning Call, STEPHEN MILLER is back for year No. 4 on the LVC football beat. He chronicled Central Catholic's state-championship run in 2010, watched Nazareth win its first LVC title in 2011 and saw the league crown tri-champions for the first time in 2012. He has also covered the Phillies, college football and a variety of prep sports while with The Morning Call. To stay updated on the 2013 LVC football season, check out the Varsity blog and follow him on Twitter @mcall_smiller.